Laurent's POV          

~day of event~ 

I have one hour before I have for give my speech and I'm so nervous...but not because of the speech. I'm nervous because I don't know if my bebe gonna be there. It's been days and I still haven't talked to him. When I woke up this morning I did what I do every morning since I came home. I look over at Larry's side and see the empty spot so I take my hand and rub it in a circle on it because I miss him so much. I try to respect what he said and not reach out to him but it's so hard. I understand why he upset but I didn't think it last this long and the longer I don't talk to him the more I hurt. I talk to Stephanie and she feel the same way. We feel like a part of us missing. It's so funny how my friendship is with Stephanie is now. Whether we like each other or hate each other it's always for the same reason. My Larry. That prove how much he means to us and how special he is. That's why I want him back. I'm always happy to be his brother but to have him as my lover is the best thing that ever happened to me and I have for do what Stephanie said. Have faith that he come back so he can be my lover forever. I'm dressed now so I'm gonna leave early because I wanna drive around and clear my head before I get there...

Author's POV

Larry is in the hotel room he's been staying in for the past few days, laying on his back and looking up at the ceiling. He's doing much better in trying to get past the pain he's been feeling...but he would be lying if he said that a big part of him isn't still hurt. Everyday living in fear and hopelessness...depression so real that it practically crippled him. It's been the most heartbreaking time in his all his life so instead of trying to get over it he just allowed himself to feel the emotions. He also remembers that it's Friday and he knows Laurent's speech is tonight. He turns his head to look at the clock on the nightstand and the time reads 6:20 pm. He keeps his gaze on the clock for a moment then slowly shifts to the other side and closes his eyes...    

*****

After a relaxing drive around the city Laurent finally arrives at the venue and is warmly greeted by some of the staff at Melbourne. He returns the warm greeting then searches through the crowd for Rob when he notices him standing with Jason. They both have a cup of punch in there hands and enjoying their conversation. He doesn't want to be rude and interrupt but he definitely wants to speak to Rob so he walks over...  

Laurent: "Excuse me".

Rob: *smile* "Hey Laurent. It's good to see you".

Laurent returns the smile and they engage in a friendly hug... 

Laurent: "It's good to see you too".

Rob: "Wait here for a minute ok"? 

Laurent nods so Rob takes off. Laurent is unsure of where he's going so he takes the time to talk to Jason even though they just saw each other the other day when Laurent called him up and asked if he wanted to go to the pool hall together. It was a good way to take his mind off of the pain he caused Larry. Now Rob is coming back over and handing him something...his medal of completion... 

Rob: *smile* "Here you go buddy. This makes it official".

Laurent: *smile* "Thanks man".

Rob: "You're so welcome". 

Laurent is admiring his medal when he notices Rob scanning him up and down...

Rob: "You look like you're holding up really well".

Laurent: "Yeah I feel much better".

Rob: "I'm happy to hear that". 

Laurent: *smile* "Thank you".   

Rob: *smile* "No problem". *pause* "So will the person you talked about in rehab be here"?

Laurent's countenance instantly reads sadness which doesn't go unnoticed by Rob...

Laurent: "I don't know".

Rob: "Oh". *pause* "Well don't worry. It hasn't started yet so they still have time".

Laurent pauses then solemnly nods. The next voice he hears is Stephanie who's right behind him so he turns around to face her...

Stephanie: *smile* "Hey you".

Laurent: *smile* "Hey Stephanie. You look nice. Thanks for coming".

Stephanie: "Thank you. You look nice yourself and... you're very welcome. Thanks for inviting me. I wouldn't miss it".

Laurent: "Welcome". 

They give each other a smile but it's a weak smile...and they know the reason why...

Laurent: "There's some snacks and punch if you want something".

Stephanie: "No thanks. I ate before I came so I'm good".

Laurent nods before looking at his watch then at the door as he nervously bites his bottom lip. It's getting closer to 7:00 and there's still no sign of Larry. Thankfully, his speech isn't first so even if he doesn't get there by the time the event starts Laurent is hopeful that he'll arrive at just the right time so looking back at Stephanie... 

Laurent: "You should go and find a good seat. I have to sit with the other people who are giving speeches".

Stephanie: "Yeah ok. I'll see you afterwards and I know you're going to do great". 

Laurent: *smile* "Thank you".

Stephanie: *smile and wink* "No problem".

They go their separate ways and Stephanie finds a seat in the front row where she will have a great view of Laurent. She sits down and crosses her legs like the dainty lady she is and waits for the event to begin. She too looks back at the door hoping to see Larry. In fact, she takes her purse and places it in the seat next to her to save it for him as she's confident he will show up. Five minutes go by and when she looks at her watch it reads exactly 7:00. She looks up as she hears the chatter in the room getting lower as someone approaches the podium. She then looks to her left and sees Laurent sitting with several people and when they connect eyes they're reading the same thing...worry...

Emcee: "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the 10th annual 'Kicking Addiction for Good' event held by Melbourne Rehabilitation. We are so happy to see so many of you here tonight. This is always a special event as it celebrates the accomplishment of our patients who have successfully conquered the disease of addiction. As a former addict, I'm sure many of our speakers tonight will agree with me when I say that addiction is extremely life-altering and there is no better feeling than taking your life back and doing exactly what this program is called...kicking the addiction for good. So without further delay, let's bring up our first speaker. Mr. Jason Taylor. *crowd claps*

Jason approaches the podium and begins his speech. Laurent is sure that whatever he's saying is great but he just can't focus on it. He looks in Stephanie's direction and sees Sabrina sitting close to her with a smile on her face which makes him smile slightly. She looks so proud and she should be. Jason is a nice person and ever since he met him he's been hoping that the two of them can work it out and become a family again. Still, it's hard for him to focus on Jason's speech because his head also keeps checking the door as there's still no sign of Larry. Within minutes Jason is finished and Laurent is unaware that his name is being called until the people around him bring it to his attention. He gulps then slowly stands up and walks the few steps onto the stage and stands in front of the podium. He looks down at Stephanie and he can tell that she has tears in her eyes. He starts to get tears in his eyes too because when he takes his attention off of her to scan the crowd he doesn't see Larry at all. He really doesn't want to speak without him being there but he knows he has to. Then crowds applause stops as they wait for him to begin his speech. He already had one prepared...but he has a last minute decision to speak directly from his heart so he won't pull it out. He takes a deep breath and speaks into the mic...   

"Thank you. I look out in the crowd and I was hoping to see someone here...but I don't see them". *soft sigh* " So I guess I'll just push through it". *pause* "When I look back at the last few months of my life I never realized how hard it's been...but I guess addiction isn't supposed to be easy. The only thing easy is getting started because all it takes is that one time. You don't realize how quickly it turns into so many times and by the time you decide you want to stop you can't. It takes a hold of you and you become a different person. A person who isn't satisfied to just hurt yourself but hurt other people too. Even the people close to you. It's like you're miserable so everyone around you has to be miserable too. That was me". *pause* "I lied to and hurt everyone I know and everyone I love...but there's one person that I hurt at the worst level. Someone who would have done anything to help me and all I cared for is if my breakfast was on time, if the house was clean, laundry was done, dishes put away carefully. This person got tired of it all and left. I don't think I regret anything more in my life and I hate that this person had to leave for me to understand how bad I needed help". *pause* "There's some people who make your house a home and um, when this person left me, they told me that where we lived was no longer home. It was a house. At first I didn't understand what that meant but...I get it now. See, the house is the building. Home is in your heart and no matter what goes on in the world nothing feels like home and until this person comes back to me, until I see that face, if I see that face, it will be just a house. Not a home. For the rest of my life I will never know just how bad I hurt this person. I'll never know how it must have felt to go through that. That's why I said I'll never forgive myself and for a long time I didn't. I know now that if I want this person to forgive me I have to forgive myself. So even though this special person isn't here tonight...." *starts to cry* "I still want to shout it from the rooftop and pray it's loud enough so they can hear me". *pause* "I forgive myself bebe...." *cries harder* "....but I won't be complete until you forgive me too". *sniff* "I don't think I will ever know another love like yours and...I don't want to. You're my life bebe". *pause* "You will always be my life". 

With his speech now complete he cries directly into the mic allowing everyone to hear the magnitude of his emotions. There isn't a dry eye in the house as they can tell he meant every word. He then looks down at Stephanie and even though he's on stage he can clearly see the tears rolling down her cheeks. Eventually his tears begin to settle as he holds up his medal then whispers into the mic, "Thank you". 

He receives a standing ovation and a resounding round of applause as he leaves the podium...taking one hand to wipe his tears in one smooth up and down motion. Once off stage, he's instantly greeted by Stephanie who came to give him a big hug. He's also approached by people who want to shake his hand and congratulate him on his accomplishment while also telling him how moved they were by his speech. He's grateful and receives them warmly. Just as he's about to start shedding tears again at the thought of his love not being there he looks up then down only to do a double-take and look up again. He sees a fro and a face that looks exactly like his own. He bolts through the crowd of people who are still trying to congratulate him and he's praying that he isn't seeing things again and Larry being here is his imagination again like that day in their bedroom...but the closer he gets to him he realizes he isn't fading away and a smile spreads across his face when he finally reaches him. They gaze into each other's eyes and Laurent has never seen a more beautiful sight...  

Laurent: "Bebe? I can't believe it. You're here".

Larry smiles warmly then shrugs his shoulders as he playfully responds...

Larry: "I was in the neighborhood".

His smile then turns into his big, beautiful one...the exact smile that Laurent has been missing so of course that causes Laurent to smile widely...  

Laurent: "You heard everything"?

Larry: *smile* "Every word". 

Laurent doesn't waste another second. He pulls Larry into the biggest hug of life. Everyone takes notice and begins clapping again. He could've held Larry in his arms forever but he let him go to look in his eyes again... 

Laurent: "Thank you bebe". 

*brief pause*

Larry: "Welcome", he whispers. 

He let him go and when he turns around Stephanie is there as well. She and Larry connect eyes briefly before Larry steps forward to wrap her up in a hug to which Laurent smiles at the reunion. Larry releases and lightly takes her chin between his thumb and index finger, gives her a small but sweet smile and a wink before looking back at Laurent...

Laurent: "I want you to meet some people bebe".

Larry nods then follows him to where Jason and Rob are standing and talking again...only this time Sabrina and Dominic are standing beside them... 

Rob: *smile* "Hey Laurent. Great job man".

Laurent: *smile* "Thank you".

Sabrina: "Yeah. I was really moved".

Laurent: "Thank you Sabrina".

Sabrina: *smile* "You're welcome". 

Laurent: "Hey Dominic".

Dominic can barely respond as he's now seeing Larry thus completing Les Twins. Larry sees him and smiles at him... 

Laurent: "Rob, this is my brother Larry. Larry, this is Rob". *looks at Larry* "Rob is the first person I talked to when I went to rehab. *shakes hand* "This is Jason and Sabrina". *shakes hands* "And this is Dominic". 

Larry: "Hey Dominic".

Dominic: "Woooow. Larry. Hi"!

This is an adorable moment as the world is very well aware of how much they adore children. They would have stayed longer to converse but Laurent needs some time with his love so... 

Laurent: "So Rob, you don't need me for anything else do you"?

Rob: "No, you're good to go and again, great job tonight. Call me if you ever need anything, ok"?

Laurent: "Thank you. I will". *pause* "Jason, I'll call you and maybe we can all hang out sometime".

Jason: *smile* "Sounds good man".

He gives him a pound then gives Sabrina a peck on the cheek and a high five to Dominic before turning back to his love...

Laurent: *smile* "Take a walk with me"?

Larry: *smile* "Oki".

Stephanie: "Well I'm going home. I'll see you guys later".

Laurent: "Oki. Thank you for being here Stephanie".

Stephanie: *smile* "You're welcome".

All of them leave the building then go their separate ways...

Laurent: "Bebe, the beach we love isn't too far from here. It's a beautiful night to go there and take a walk".

Larry: "Yeah oki". 

*****

So here they are...walking along the boardwalk but have yet to begin talking. Understandably they're both nervous as this is the first time they've been this close to each other in months. They eventually come to a stop overlooking the ocean. The boardwalk is perfectly lit and allows Laurent to see the beauty standing before him. Their eyes meet...but after only a few moments Larry breaks it by slowly dropping his head. Laurent takes his index finger and slowly lifts it back up...  

Laurent: "Let me look at you bebe", he whispers.

Laurent can feel the tears building in his eyes but he tries so hard to keep it together. He can look at Larry all night but there are some things he really needs to say... 

Laurent: "Bebe, I understand why you were so upset. You deserved to be the first to know. My therapist told me that I should talk to the people who I hurt with my addiction and I know the main person is you. I just need you to know that I really didn't plan to talk to her first. I was just there to watch you then I decided to leave...but when I saw you leave I decided to talk to her. But I also meant what I told you. I wanted to be better. I was in rehab for only one month and to me that wasn't enough time. I was still struggling bebe and I didn't want you to see me like that. I tried to think of you but I guess I only think for myself and I'm sorry for that". 

Larry is also trying his best to keep his composure as Laurent speaks to him. When Laurent finished he was going to respond only Laurent isn't done...  

Laurent: "Um...." *sigh* "I'm so nervous".  

Larry: "It's oki. I'm nervous too". 

Larry notices Laurent's face has softened even more and he realizes that whatever he's about to say will stab him right in the heart...but in a good way....

Laurent: "Larry, I don't think I can explain the pain I feel because of what I put you through. I look at your face right now and I don't understand how I can hurt you". *starts crying* "You're so beautiful bebe. You're so beautiful and...so amazing. You're my everything". *sniff* "I don't expect anything from you because of what I did and I'm sure you need time...but I'm so glad you came tonight because I can finally look you in the eye and say what I've wanted to say for so long". *deep sigh* "I'm sorry bebe. I'm so sorry for hurting you emotionally....for causing you pain physically...for causing you embarrassment....and for putting you in the position to be the bigger person".  

Larry is looking directly into his eyes as he speaks...his lips slightly parted, his eyes slightly wide and glossy as if he's going to cry any moment. He then opens his mouth to respond but his voice is raspy so he has to clear his throat and start over... 

Larry: "Thank...." *clears throat* "Thank you Laurent". *pause* "Thank you for saying that to me".

Laurent: "Welcome". *pause* "Will you please forgive me"? 

Now Laurent is speaking in a raspy voice but there's also an urgency in his words because he can't go another moment until he has Larry's forgiveness. They both gaze at each other and the only sounds heard are the ocean waves nearby and the way Laurent is softly taking in breaths as he waits for his love to respond...

Laurent: "Bebe? I need to hear you say you forgive me".

Tears fall from their eyes as Larry sweetly responds...

Larry: "I forgive you Laurent".

Larry watches two more ears fall from Laurent's eyes as he lifts his head to the sky and blows out the biggest sigh of relief. He then brings his head back down to meet Larry's eyes again. He softly cups Larry's face as he cries even harder...  

Laurent: "You make me so happy bebe. Thank you". *pause* "I love you so much". 

The next second he's kissing Larry warmly and passionately. It seems as though the ocean waves are louder. A wave even crashes loudly as if it's on cue to the beauty of this moment. They just stand there and kiss for what could be forever...    

------------------- 

A/N: Hey my loves. I know I'm giving away my age by referring to these old a** movies lol but Laurent's event was inspired by the 90's film "When A Man Loves A Woman" which is another excellent movie that you should see if you haven't. It's about addiction too so it was the perfect inspiration for this chapter. Hope everyone enjoyed! Please comment! Love you guys. :)